Flat-iron



IlNrTnn STATES JOHN ALEXANDER-,OF GREEN POINT, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLAT-IRON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,512, dated February 13, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN ALEXANDEmof Green Point, in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flat-Irons; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully set forth in the following specification, which I have prepared with a View to the obtainin g of Letters Patent therefor.

My invention relates to that class of flatirons in which the base or body is disconnected at will from the handle, to allow the body to be heated while the handle is kept cool, and may be' used with other bases.

I will proceed to describe what I consider the best mode of carrying out my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the Hat-iron complete. Fig. 2 is a side View, partially in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base or body alone. Fig. 4 is a side view of the handle and its attachments separated from the base. Fig. 51's a section of a portion of the base on the line s sin Fig. 3; and Fig. Gis a section of a part on the parallel line T T.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the iigures.

The hole A t c is cored or otherwise produced in the top of the main body. This hole is longer in one direction than the other at the surface, as pla-inly indicated in Fig. 3, but is enlarged and made circular underneath.

B b b is a piece of iron adapted to enter freely through the long hole at the surface and to be locked therein by being turned partially around. i

The frame-work O and the wooden handle D are strongly secured to the piece of iron B, as indicated.

E is a washer or ring slipped on over the upper end of the piece B before the latter is united to O, and which presses on the upper face of the base or main body of the iron by the force of the coiled spring G.

There is a deep stop, m, in the hole A, which prevents the iron B from being turned in the wrong direction, and also from being turned more than one-fourth of a revolution.

There are recesses a a in the top or roof, so to speak, which covers a portion of the hole A; and these recesses correspond in form to the projections or arms Z) b on the iron B. The action of the spring G tends to lift the iron B with considerable force.

To use my invention, the main body being properly heated by a stove or otherwise, the handle is grasped by the wooden portion D and the iron B introduced in` the hole A. It is now pressed down with considerable force, the wooden part D being seized with both hands, ifnecessary. and after sufficient pressure has been applied to compress the spring G and force the iron B b b to the bottom of the hole A, the handleis next turned round onefourth of a revolution until one of its projections b hits the stop m. ln this position the handle is allowed to rise in obedience to the action ot' the spring G, and the arms b b of the part B are received and securely held in the recesses c a. The handle is now securely' attached and the iron may be used in the ordinary manner. When it is desired to again heat the main body it is placed on the stove or other heating apparatus, the handle is again pressed down sufficiently to force the partB to the bottom of the cavity A, and in this position the handle is easily turned a fourth of a revolution. It is now free and may belit'ted out of the hole A and applied to another base, vwhich may have been previously heated.

I do not confine myself7 to the precise forms of the parts herein represented.

Having now described my invent-ion, what I claim as new in flat-irons, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

A single spurred tenon on the handle, in combination with a suitable cavity in the body or base and with a spring, arranged to operate together, as represented, so that the handle be united to and separated from the base at will by a pressing down and partial' rotation of the handle, substantially as herein set forth.

JOHN ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

W. THILMANY, D. W. STETsoN. 

